The Benefits of Summer Visits

For many, summer provides a welcome respite from every-day routines—a chance to relax and unwind. In today’s competitive college world, summer also gives young people an invaluable opportunity to build their future admission application profiles. Pursuing a passion, shadowing a professional in a field of interest and/or taking an academic strength or extra-curricular activity to the next level so as to demonstrate excellence, leadership or mastery can help kids gain self-confidence as well as knowledge about the larger world while also authentically enhancing how they “look” to college admission committees.

For high school seniors, summer’s also a terrific time to visit college campuses. Although schools may not be in session, I always encourage my clients to extend their first-round spring visit schedule into July and August rather than waiting until the start of senior year. During these two months, institutions often host special open houses for prospective students. If families can’t make one of those, “regular” tour groups and info sessions tend to be smaller in size, on-duty admission and financial aid office staffers have more time to address questions and concerns and, of course, campuses are green and gorgeous.

As an independent educational consultant, I aim for between 20 and 30 campus visits each year. Recently I checked out four area institutions on semi-rainy days (when even fewer visitors made for even more personalized tours and question-and-answer opps). As always, I also spent one-on-one time with admission officers so as to get the full, professional-to-professional update on what’s what. (BTW: I saw 16 colleges in Vermont this past April during a counselors’ tour sponsored by CVC; click here to view the video I created.)

My most recent trips brought me to Fairfield and Quinnipiac universities in Connecticut and Sarah Lawrence College and SUNY Purchase in Westchester County. I’ve recommended appropriate students to these places in the past, but there’s nothing like seeing schools close up to appreciate all that they have to offer and to get a first-hand sense of their unique personalities. Visiting diverse institutions enables me to find “perfect” matches for my equally diverse clientele; it’s not unusual for me to text or send photos via my phone to kids during my trips when I’ve identified College A or University B as an option they might find particularly appealing.

After these initial look-sees (what I term “observing and absorbing” opportunities), students and their families are better able to determine which schools warrant return visits in the fall, when a more in-depth view (by visiting classes, speaking with coaches, staying overnight in a dorm, etc.) may help students choose the places that make the cut and to which they’ll ultimately apply.

As tempting as it may be to put off what might seem like a huge and complex task while under summer’s sway, visiting schools can be lots of fun! But students must think carefully and concretely about their needs and preferences and, in turn, plan itineraries wisely in order to enjoy and learn from these experiences; more often than not, using a scatter-shot approach is unproductive and exhausting.

Already I’m looking forward to my next trips, including a three-day stay in Washington, DC. in August. How about you?

Need help figuring out how to schedule an effective/productive college tour? Send me your questions via this blog or my email (smoore@nextstepcollegecounseling.com) and I’ll do my best to assist you.